Press Releases
Baltimore Delegation Members Urge Congressional Leaders to Increase COVID-19 Relief for Public Transit
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, and Kweisi Mfume (all D-Md.) urged Congressional Leaders to provide urgently needed relief for public transit agencies, like the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA). The lawmakers requested an additional $32 billion in funding to help public transit agencies like MTA continue providing essential services to frontline workers. They also asked to improve the funding formula for public … Continue Reading
July 31, 2020
Van Hollen, Democrats Call on EPW Chairman Barrasso to Hold Oversight Hearings on Abuse of Authority to Protect Federal Property
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), and all other Democratic members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee are calling on EPW leadership to hold oversight hearings on the Trump administrations use and potential abuse of federal regulations designed to protect government buildings in Portland and other cities across the country. “The scenes that our nation is witnessing in Portland, in which federal law enforcement agents have been deployed to arrest and … Continue Reading
July 31, 2020
Van Hollen, Hirono, Murray, and Colleagues to McConnell: Immigrants Are Essential and Deserve Support in Coronavirus Relief Legislation
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), and Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-Wash.) urged Majority Leader McConnell to support tax-paying immigrant families who have Individual Tax Identification Numbers (ITIN) by ensuring they have access to economic relief payments provided in the CARES Act and any future coronavirus relief package.An estimated 20 million immigrants work in essential industries. These … Continue Reading
July 31, 2020
Senate Approves Gold Star Families Week Resolution Authored by Van Hollen, Hyde-Smith
The U.S. Senate approved a bipartisan resolution introduced by U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) that establishes September 20-26, 2020, as “Gold Star Families Remembrance Week” to honor the families of fallen members of the Armed Forces. Gold Star Families Remembrance Week is a designated national period to honor the families of U.S. military servicemembers who lost their lives in service to the nation. The week precedes Gold Star Mother’s Day, which is … Continue Reading
July 31, 2020
Van Hollen Joins Coons-Wicker Bill Targeting Debt-Based Driver’s License Suspensions
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) cosponsored bipartisan legislation led by Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) to encourage states to stop debt-based driver’s license suspensions. “Suspending driver’s licenses for unpaid fees is a misguided relic from the ‘War on Drugs’ era that punishes people who can’t pay their bills on time by making it even harder for them to make an income to pay their bills. How stupid is that?” said Senator Van Hollen. “This pandemic … Continue Reading
July 31, 2020
Van Hollen, Bipartisan Group of Senators Push Provisions to Require Maximum Telework for Federal Workers in Next Relief Package
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) led a bipartisan group of Senators in sending a letter to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer urging them to include maximum telework requirements for federal employees and contractors in the next coronavirus relief package.“As the Senate considers the next coronavirus relief package, we urge you to include requirements to ensure maximum telework for federal employees and contractors during the COVID-19 pandemic. … Continue Reading
July 30, 2020
Van Hollen, Schatz, Feinstein Introduce New Bill to Improve Public Awareness of Masks in Reducing the Spread of Covid-19, Provide Free Cloth Masks
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today introduced new legislation that will increase the adoption of face coverings by providing free cloth masks to any individual who requests one. The Senators' bill will also authorize a public service announcement campaign and additional research into mask efficacy to reduce the spread of COVID-19.“We know that wearing masks is one of the most effective ways to combat this virus. As cases … Continue Reading
July 30, 2020
Van Hollen, Harris Introduce Legislation to Support Uterine Fibroids Research and Education
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Kamala D. Harris (D-CA), and Cory Booker (D-NJ) on Thursday introduced the Uterine Fibroid Research and Education Act, legislation to initiate crucial research and education in relation to uterine fibroids and ensure women get the information and care they need. Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (NY-11) introduced this legislation in the House of Representatives.Uterine fibroids affect an estimated 26 million women between the ages of 15 and 50, across all … Continue Reading
July 29, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin Introduce Senate Resolution Declaring Racism a Public Health Crisis
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-MD), along with Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Kamala Harris (D-CA) have introduced a Senate Resolution declaring racism a public health crisis. The coronavirus pandemic has underscored the racial disparities that continue to pervade public health as a direct result of systemic racism. Barriers to quality health care access, housing, jobs, wages and so much else contribute to stark health disparities for communities … Continue Reading
July 29, 2020
Van Hollen, Democratic Senators Press for Increased Funding to Modernize Federal Agencies’ Technology in next COVID Package
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), joined by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), wrote a letter to the Appropriations Committee leadership urging the Committee to include funding to modernize federal information technology within the next COVID-19 relief package.The Senators begin, “As the Senate begins the process of negotiating and considering the next coronavirus pandemic relief supplemental … Continue Reading
July 29, 2020
Van Hollen, Hassan, Collins, Colleagues Push for Support of School Meal Programs Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Susan Collins (R-ME), and 33 of their colleagues are urging the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to continue critical flexibilities that have allowed students to access much-needed meals throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. If extended throughout the 2020-2021 school year, children would maintain access regardless of school opening status, and struggling school nutrition programs would benefit from additional financial … Continue Reading
July 29, 2020
Van Hollen, Sanders Introduce Masks for All Act to Curb Deadly Coronavirus Surge
As COVID-19 infections continue to surge across America and nearly 30 states impose public mask-wearing requirements, Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and over three dozen Democratic colleagues in the Senate and House introduced lifesaving legislation today to manufacture and distribute high-quality, reusable masks to everyone in America.The proposal, developed in consultation with health experts including Andy Slavitt, the former Acting Administrator of the Centers … Continue Reading
July 29, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin Continue Push to Bring Harriet Tubman Statue to U.S. Capitol Building
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) urged Chairman Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) of the U.S. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration to support their legislation, which is cosponsored by Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), to bring a statue of Harriet Tubman to the U.S. Capitol Building in honor and recognition of her extraordinary life and service. “Through the art in the Capitol, Congress makes powerful statements about our nation’s history and values. From the … Continue Reading
July 29, 2020
Van Hollen, Schatz Introduce Bill to Protect Health and Safety of Federal Workers During COVID-19 Pandemic, Ensure Federal Workers Have a Voice in Creating Emergency Response Policies
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) introduced the Federal Labor-Management COVID Partnership Act, a bill that would keep federal workers safe during public health emergencies, including the current COVID-19 pandemic, by creating formal labor-management task forces at both the Executive Branch and agency level. These task forces would be responsible for reviewing current telework, leave, cleaning, and training policies, supplying policy recommendations and … Continue Reading
July 28, 2020
Van Hollen, Hassan Call on Facebook to Stop Spread of Climate Change Disinformation on Its Platform
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) urged Facebook to stop the spread of climate change disinformation on its platform. In their letter to Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, the Senators detail how Facebook’s decision to label climate change content as “opinion content” has prevented fact checks on misleading or false information on climate change, which emboldens climate deniers and promotes the spread of disinformation. The letter follows reporting from the New … Continue Reading
July 28, 2020
Maryland, Virginia Senators Call Trump Adminstration’s Attempt to Use COVID-19 as Excuse for Funding Unsecured Downtown FBI Headquarters “Inappropriate”
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) and Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-Va.) are calling on Senate leadership to reject the Trump adminstration’s attempt to add funding for a downtown headquarters for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) into the latest COVID-19 relief package. The four senators urged that the language be removed from any COVID-19 legislation.“The United States is in the midst of a public health crisis and an economic downturn. Addressing these … Continue Reading
July 28, 2020
Van Hollen, Murphy Introduce Legislation to Prevent Health Care Providers from Seizing Bank Accounts, Wages During COVID-19 Pandemic
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) introduced the COVID-19 Medical Debt Collection Relief Act, legislation to prevent healthcare providers from taking drastic steps to collect medical debts from patients - including seizing bank accounts and garnishing wages.Nearly one in four working-age American adults report having problems paying their medical bills. As our nation battles the COVID-19 pandemic, the financial and health consequences of medical debt are … Continue Reading
July 27, 2020
Van Hollen Statement on Republican Release of COVID-19 Plan
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding the COVID-19 plan released by Senate Republicans today:“It’s bad enough that Senate Republicans are allowing many important protections to expire, but it’s outrageous that - when they finally unveiled their proposals today - they fall so far short of meeting the urgent needs around the country and, in many cases, will make the situation worse. The House of Representatives passed the HEROES Act over two months ago … Continue Reading
July 27, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin, Hoyer Announce Nearly $300,000 for Blue Crab Research at the University of Maryland
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (all D-Md.) today announced $299,963 in federal funding for the University of Maryland, College Park for research into a new processing technology that could enhance the competitiveness of the domestic blue crab industry. The funding comes from the 2020 Saltonstall-Kennedy Competitive Grants Program through the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). “Few things are as iconic as the Chesapeake Bay blue … Continue Reading
July 27, 2020
Van Hollen, Menendez, Durbin, Schumer Again Call on Trump to Grant TPS for Venezuelans
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), as well as Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) today called on President Trump to support the victims of the Maduro regime by granting Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Venezuelans fleeing the political, economic, and humanitarian crisis in their home country. “As the people of Venezuela continue to suffer political oppression and economic deprivation at the hands of … Continue Reading
